Il22 immunoconjugates

Abstract

The application relates to a conjugate comprising interleukin-22 (IL22) and an antibody molecule. The antibody molecule preferably binds an antigen associated with angiogenesis, such as the ED-A isoform of fibronectin. In particular, the application relates to the therapeutic use of such conjugates in the treatment of a disease/disorder, such as autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a conjugate comprising interleukin-22 (IL22) and an antibody molecule. The antibody molecule preferably binds an antigen associated with angiogenesis, such as the ED-A isoform of fibronectin. In particular, the present invention relates to the therapeutic use of such conjugates in the treatment of a disease / disorder, such as autoimmune diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Cytokines are key mediators of innate and adaptive immunity. Many cytokines have been used for therapeutic purposes in patients, such as those with advanced cancer, but their administration is typically associated with severe toxicity, hampering dose escalation to therapeutically active regimens and their development as anticancer drugs, for example. To overcome these problems, the use of Immunocytokines' (i.e. cytokines fused to antibodies or antibody fragments) has been proposed, with the aim to concentra...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]However, the present inventors have surprisingly found that fusion of IL22 to the N-terminus of an antibody molecule, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, results in a conjugate with improved activity compared with a conjugate in which IL22 is fused to the C-terminus of the antibody molecule, or antigen-binding fragment thereof. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention relates to a conjugate comprising IL22 and an antibody molecule, or antigen-binding fragment thereof, which binds an antigen associated with angiogenesis, wherein IL22 is fused to the N-terminus of the antibody molecule, or antigen-binding fragment thereof.

Problems solved by technology

Many cytokines have been used for therapeutic purposes in patients, such as those with advanced cancer, but their administration is typically associated with severe toxicity, hampering dose escalation to therapeutically active regimens and their development as anticancer drugs, for example.

However, not all immunocytokines retain, for example, the in vivo targeting properties of the parental antibody (Pasche & Neri, 2012) or expected activities.

The preparation of immunocytokines with therapeutic effects, such as anti-inflammatory activity, is therefore far from straightforward.

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